APRIL FOOLS..Gotcha! We know, we know, that was a pretty mean prank to pull, but we just couldn't resist the devilish temptation to take this once-a-year opportunity to trick you. If you need a minute to recover from our heart-stopping shenanigans, we certainly understand.

'K, are you all better now? Good, this time we promise (with our fingers crossed, of course) to give you the real deal on what fun-lovin' fellas and Backstreet Boys extraordinaire Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean like to do when they're feeling a li'l mishievous.

For example, if you've gotten this far and you're still seething over our seasonally inspired silliness, then you'd better be sure to stay far, far away from Nick during this tricky time of year. No joke, Nick has a super naughty side--and the 19-year-old blondie fesses up to it with pride. "I'm the practical joker," the baby of the bunch beams. "It just comes natural."

Naturally, the four unsuspecting groupmates who join him on BSB's 1997 self-titled debut CD often fall prey to Nick's practical pranks. For the most part, though, this cutie keeps his clowning squeaky-clean--like when he messes with his sleep-talking songmate, Howie. "He mumbles and I try to joke around with him and mumble back," Nick laughs. "Sometimes he even talks to me in his sleep." Of course, being the full-on faithful friend he is, Nick wouldn't dare reveal any of Sweet D's juicy secrets!

Secretly, though, tricky Nick has some pretty dirty deeds up his sleeve. We're talking sleep-over stunts scary enough to take slumber out of a slumber party. Check this out. "I sometimes get the urge to put itching powder on you while you're sleeping or stuff in your water," the devilish darling smirks. Yikes, it looks like you better watch your back around this prank-pullin' performer!

Given Nick's love for all things that make him laugh, it's no surprise that his partner-in-crime--er, his closet companion in the group--is Brian. "We all have our moments," 25-year-old Howie shares, "but Brian is the comedian of the group." Put the two together and "you never know what's going to happen," 27-year-old Kevin cautions about his buddies Nick and Brian.

What we do know that bubbly Brian has been a wise-cracking wonder--not to mention a hipper-than-ever hitmaker--prone to slapstick stunts since he was a youngster. "I was always goofing off, always laughing in class," 24-year-old B-Rok reveals. "I wanted to be the class comedian." Now you can see why Nick and Brian are buddy-buddy. Hmmm, wonder what ginormouns April Fools' gags these two gorgeous guys have in store for their songmates this year?

Whatever the sneaky songsters are up to, you can be sure that Howie is armed, and ready to return their fun-lovin' fire. "You have to be quick with these guys," he playfully warns. He's even got some extra ammunition stored up for the stunts he's let slide. "I have to remember things that they get me on in the past so I can get them back," Howie grins.

Howie's particularly proud of a prank he pulled on Nick--right before a show in Europe--when he urged him to try a tasty pepper, a tasty hot pepper, that is. But, oops, Howie just happened to leave out that last, little detail. Of course, it didn't take Nick too long to figure out that paybacks can be a blast!

Howie's spicy stunt may have been a success, but his overall success rate for pulling one over on people isn't very high. For example, the tricky talent has tried to sneak around by himself in disquise--but he did not pull the wool over anyone's eyes. "I had like a little goatee and I even have glasses, but I still got recognized," the Florida native frowns.

While Howie's idea of a good gag is sneaking around pretending not to be the mega-popular person he truly is, A.J. is just the opposite. This wild guy's capers come in the form of calling attention to himself. "What I will do is go into a supermarket and buy a magazine," the 21-year-old grins. "Then when I go to the counter, I will be looking at the pictures and I will be like, 'Hey, look, that's me!'"

Sometimes, A.J. says, the workers think the attention-seeking songster is just a funny fella pulling an April Fools' Day prank. "They're like, 'Yeah, right,'" he smiles. "And I'm like, 'No, really! It is me. Look! See A.J., that's my name.'" (Can you imagine not recognizing this super-deluxe darling?!)

The kind of kookiness isn't surprising coming from this colorful hair-dying hottie. As a matter of fact, A.J. claims that he's been a huge ham since day one. "I thrive to just be on stage and to just be a ham," A.J. shares. "It's just too much fun!"

What wasn't too much fun were Kevin's elementary school days back in Kentucky. Class clowin' must run in the family because Brian's cousin also had a knack for humorous havoc as a young one. "It was hard to keep my attention in class because I was always trying to entertain the other pupils," Kev recalls. "I chatted and made jokes all the time."

Believe it or not, some party-poopin' people didnt' appreciate Kev's uplifting, happening sense of humor-namely his teachers. "I remember when I was in kindergarden," he squirms, "my teacher got me in front of the whole class and spanked me. I was always getting spankings from teachers because I disturbed the class. I was very lively--too lively!"

Of course, Kevin now realizes that the classroom wasn't the right place to exhibit his tremendous talent, so he doesn't hold a grudge against any of his paddle-wielding instructors. Instead, the silly songster took his energy for entertaining on the road, hooking up with four other hilarious hipsters who happened to have a yen for joking.

All kidding aside, these goofy guys may still be kids at heart, but when it comes to making their melodious, masterful music, there's now messing around. "There's no gimmicks here," Nick proudly announces. "What you see is what you get!" And what you're gonna get is more boppin' beats from BSB by way of their upcoming album, Millennium, due out this May!